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John Lennon At 80, Episode 120210428As part of 6 Music's John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band Artist Collection, another chance to hear Radio 2's celebration of John Lennon on what would have been his 80th birthday on October 9th 2020.

Presented by his youngest son, Sean Ono Lennon, the programme delves deep into the Lennon family's musical memories of John. In episode one, Sean and his elder brother Julian chat publicly for the first time about their father.

Both recall time spent in the studio at different points in John's solo career - Julian during the making of the 'Walls and Bridges' album in 1974 and Sean during the recording of 'Double Fantasy', shortly before John's death in December 1980. They chat warmly about their memories of growing up as 'John Lennon's son' and how that reflected on their own musical careers.

Elton John also chats to Sean about his close relationship with Lennon, his admiration of the Beatles as a youngster and the effect that meeting and playing music with John in the 1970's had on him. Elton also explains how he played a pivotal part in Sean's very existence (and ended up as Sean's Godfather as a result).

In Part 2, Sean will be in conversation with his father's friend, bandmate and songwriting partner, Paul McCartney. It will be the first time the pair have spoken together about John, for broadcast.

Sean also shares his own memories on his father's remarkable musical life, which created some of the most important musical milestones of the entire 20th Century.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

A celebration of John Lennon presented by his son Sean Ono Lennon.

A celebration of the music legend on what would have been his 80th birthday

John Lennon At 80, Episode 220210428As part of 6 Music's John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band Artist Collection, another chance to hear Radio 2's celebration of John Lennon on what would have been his 80th birthday on October 9th 2020.

Presented by his youngest son, Sean Ono Lennon, this second part of the programme continues to explore John's musical life, this time with the help of his friend, collaborator and bandmate, Paul McCartney.

For the first time in public, Paul reveals to Sean his own memories of meeting John as a teenager in their hometown of Liverpool, their early musical beginnings, writing together, life as a Beatle and beyond. Paul plays an excerpt of a never-before-heard Lennon/McCartney composition - an example of one of their early tunes that didn't make it to the recording studio!

Also in this programme, Sean's elder brother Julian continues exploring his recollections of his father. In the previous episode, Sean's godfather, Elton John shared his own memories of his friendship and musical relationship with John, including the story of John's last ever live performance at an Elton show in New York in 1974.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

A celebration of John Lennon presented by his son Sean Ono Lennon.

A celebration of the music legend on what would have been his 80th birthday